Balance shaft marks are in the link I posted

 

Thanks guys, I’m on the road every other day but rest assured I read everything and store up the knowledge for my return

 

Ok, I worked all day today to get this back together. unfortunately the issues remain.

The check engine light comes on and I can feel the engine missing and stumbling. Also, the Trac light comes and goes. I have also replaced both the cam solenoids but it did not cure the trac light.

My codes almost always read cylinder #3 misfire. Even though I have swapped the plugs around, coil packs around, and injectors around. It’s always coming back to #3. On occasion it shows up as a general misfire, but more often than not its #3 misfire.

I clear the codes and it runs ok for awhile, then starts again, and the engine light returns with the same code.

I can smell the cat also, emitting a rotten egg smell. Sometimes the engine light will flash on and off. It’s misfiring and heating up my cat.

What is left? Bad rings? Perhaps they botched the valve job up?

I ordered a compression tester, it should be here by Monday.

Any ideas, I am game. I am defeated by this car. (the brakes are still hosed, pedal f=goes to floor, on to the other thread for that one)

 

A compression test is definitely next.
to ensure you don’t fuel wash the cylinder walls, start the car, then pull the fuel pump fuse, #13.
Then pull the coils and the spark plugs, have a very close look at #3 for carbon deposits.

 

Ok, i know you are all probably getting tired of me.

I am still going to run a battery of tests (checking for broken injection wires, fuel pump pressure, leak down test, etc,) but after reading various posts all across the internet on these 2.4 ecotec engines, I’m not holding my breath that I am going to get by without an engine swap, or at least a re ring hone job. It seems to me, the code p0303 is common on a failing 2.4 cylinder ecotec engine.

so I am trying to weight my options here. My wife really likes this car and wants to keep it. I like the fact that it’s paid for and I don’t mind getting my hands dirty. Figuring out bizarre problems like this isn’t my most favorite thing to do, but when I got a solid answer, I have no problems rolling my my sleeves and getting dirty.

the local machine shop that did the head told me (the head) was pretty much disposable past a simple valve job, which they have already performed $175 ago . But what about the rest of the engine? When I google rebuild kits, I don’t come up with tons of stuff. I see kits with rings, so I can either rebuild this block in the car by dropping the oil pan and crank and honing, replacing rings, since the head is newer. I can find 2.4 ecotecs in the boneyards for around $450 average US dollars if I drive 3 hours. I thought I read somewhere that I can use a non oil cooled replacement in mine (mine has an oil cooler) but I’m not sure of the procedure on that.

back in the day, it was important to measure and rebore cylinders with new oversized pistons, etc. I guess this day and age these engines are meant to run their course and then go off to the scrap heap.

im sure that at least a few of you HHR enthusiasts reading this has been down this road at some point. I’m just trying to weight my options, and seeking any information on what I may look for, and what to avoid, as well as any other pitfalls on this adventure.

i just have a feeling I’m not getting off so easy here

 

See what the compression test says. Go from there.

 

When you did that valve job , did you install new head bolts?

 

Yes sir sure did

 

Good, I have to ask these things. On to that compression test!

 

And be prepared to do a follow-up leak down test.